You are here

Home » Lowest U.S. birth rate in three decades could be risk to economy

Lowest U.S. birth rate in three decades could be risk to economy

Published by Rachel Willis on Fri, 05/18/2018 - 12:00am

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Women in the United States gave birth last year at the lowest rate in 30 years, a trend that could weigh on economic growth in the coming years.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics says the number of U.S. babies born last year fell 2 percent from 2016 to 3.85 million, also a 30-year low. Total births have fallen for three straight years. The fertility rate dropped 3 percent last year to 60.2 births per 1,000 women ages 15 through 44.

Economic growth has already slowed in the United States, with the vast baby boom generation retiring and fewer young people replacing them.

Economic expansion is generally driven by population growth and worker efficiency, both of which have slowed in the past decade.

Most Recent Poll

The inclusion of a Craddock Avenue extension through environmentally sensitive land in a presentation on the city's Transportation Master Plan at Tuesday's city council meeting raised questions.

The potential extension, that would extend Craddock to Lime Kiln Road and Interstate 35 on a route above Sink Creek, is listed as a conservation corridor in the thoroughfare plan.

There currently are only two routes that connect traffic between Interstate 35 and areas west now – Wonder World Drive and through downtown. The Craddock Avenue extension would divert the traffic that is moving through downtown to other areas, but could present some potential environmental issues.

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, or CAMPO, started a regional arterial study in the middle of last year and when it is finished, it could show potential alternatives to the Craddock extension that CAMPO would be interested in funding.

The council is set to vote on the Transportation Master Plan on June 5.

Yes, it would ease traffic downtown sooner.

No, it's an environmentally-sensitive area and the city should wait for CAMPO options.